Relay means for highway crossing signal systems



.May 16, 1933. w, s HENRY 1,909,274

RELAY mamas FOR HIGHWAY cRossING SIGNAL SYSTEMS Original Filed Jan. 20, 1931 INVENTOR W. 5. Henry,

BY WM.

H15 ATTORNEY Patented May 16, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Yin-m m.

WILLIAM S. HENRY, OF COLDWATER, NEW YORK, ASSIGN3R TO GENERAL RAILWAY SIGNAL COMPANY, 0F ROCHESTER, NEW YORK RELAY MEANS FOR HIGHWAY CROSSING SIGNAL SYSTEMS Original application filed. January 20, 1931, Serial No. 509,978. Divided and this application filed December 3, 1931.

This invention relates in general to relay means for signalling systems, and has more particular reference to means particularly suited to highway crossing signal systems.

The present application is a division of application Ser. No. 509,976 filed January 20, 1931.

In highway crossing signals employing usual interlocking relays, if a train enter one of the usual detector track sections, at one side of a highway, at a time when the other detector track section at the other side of the highway is shunted, or de-energized, or open circuited, from any cause whatsoever, the interlocking relay for the side of the entering train is already latched up, and hence the train cannot warn of the danger due to its approach to the highway by energizing the highway crossing signal. In other words,

there is no protection afforded by the highway signal against a train approaching the highway under such conditions. The short-cir cuiting or shunting referred to, of one of the detector track sections, can occur due to a maintainer testing the track circuit, to a sleigh runner or the like over the track rails, or to other means.

One object of the present invention is to provide a relay organization particularly adapted to be used in a system for protecting against a combination of circumstances such as pointed out above.

Further objects, purposes and characteristic features will appear as the description progresses, reference being made to the ac companying drawing showing, solely by way of example, and in no manner in a limiting sense, one form which the invention can assume. In the drawing Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing one form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view showing structural features of the invention.

he invention, as shown in the drawing, comprises an interlocking latching relay IR including two pivoted armatures 4 and 5, biased by gravity to move downwardly against stops 6 and 7 and. held in the full line position, shown in Fig. 2, when armature 8 is energized.

Serial No. 578,701.

As shown in Fig. 2, contact carrying armatures 9 and 10 of relays TR and TR respec tively, are so positioned with respect to the pivoted armatures e. and 5 as to be locked against moving to full released position by the armatures 4 and 5, if such armatures are down, and have been first released. l Vhen de-energized in such circumstances, the armature of relays T 0 and T3 move toward full released position, but are prevented from moving far enough to close their back contacts.

The operation of the interlocking or latching relay IR, and the track relay TR and TR is diagrammatically shown in Fig. 2, from which it can be seen that the interlocking relay can lock either or both of the other two relays against moving to full released position, i. e., against closing their back contacts, if the interlocking relay is first de-cnergized. Furthermore, each of the relays TH and TR can lock the respective cooperating armature of the interlocking relay, in released position, if such relay TR or TR is de-onergized after relay IR has been decnergized and has released its armature.

The above rather specific description of one form of the invention has been given solely by way of illustration, and is not intended, in any manner whatsoever, in a limiting sense. Obviously, this invention can assume many diilerent physical forms, and is susceptible of numerous modifications, and all such forms and modifications, are intended to be included by this invention, as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, 1 new claim 1. In combination, an operating relay, a

latching relay, an armature for each relay,-

the armature or" the latching relay being ar ranged when released, to prevent release of the operating relay armature but ineffective to prevent tie picking up of the operating relay armature, and the operating relay armature being ineffective to prevent release of the latching relay armature, but effective, when released, to prevent pick up of the latching relay armature.

2. In a relay organization, two spaced op- 1 i crating armatures, independent means for operating the armatures, a latching armature for each of the operating armatures, means to operate the latching armatures, each latching armature, when released, being latched in released position by its operating armature when in released position.

3. In a relay organization, two spaced operating armatures, independent means for operating the armatures, a latching armature for each of the operating armatures, means to operate the latching armatures, each latching armature, when released, being latched in released position by its operating armature when in released position, and each latching armature when in released position, latching its operating armature against moving to released position.

4. In a relay organization. two spaced opcrating armatures, independent means for operating the armatures, a latching armature for each of the operating armatures, means to simultaneously operate the latching armatures, each latching armature, when released, being latched in released position by its operating armature in released position.

5. In combination, an operating relay, a latching relay, an armature for each relay, the armature of the latching relay being arranged when released, to move into the path of. and to prevent release of the operating relay armature but ineffective to prevent the picking up of the operating relay armature, and the operating relay armature being inefiective in attracted position, to prevent release of the latching relay armature, but effective, when released, to prevent pick up of the latching relay armature from its retracted position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM S. HENRY. 

